Damaged Painting, Unsigned Certificate, and No Meaningful Customer Support.
Extremely disappointing experience with Montbaron Gallery in Madrid.
I purchased a painting through Catawiki for €270, with an additional €81.65 charged for shipping. The artwork arrived in packaging that I consider completely inadequate for the transport of a work of art. The frame, described in the listing as an “exclusive custom-made frame,” arrived heavily damaged on all four sides, scratched and deformed. More concerning, the painting had come loose from the frame during transport and showed damage to one corner.
I submitted a detailed complaint through Catawiki’s official messaging system, including multiple photographs documenting the damage. I received no response for several days.
As for the guarantee certificate promised in the listing, I had to send repeated reminders before receiving it. The first version sent to me was not even signed, despite the gallery stating that it would be signed by their art historian. It took several additional messages before I finally received a version that matched their own description.
When the gallery eventually responded to my complaint, they failed to address several key issues: the damage to the painting itself, the justification for the unusually high shipping costs, the inadequate packaging, and their responsibility as the seller.
Rather than providing clear answers, the gallery appeared more concerned with defending its reputation. My experience was marked by poor communication, a disappointing level of after-sales service, and a lack of willingness to address well-documented concerns.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this gallery and I will not purchase from them again.